“Are you sure I look alright?” Liliana asked, twisting and turning to see herself better in the mirror. Astrid was waiting next to her, her face strained. It might be a result of Liliana changing her dress three times already and Astrid having to assist her and deal with her dithering over different outfits and accessories for hours, something the young noblewoman wasn’t usually prone to. She had finally settled on a dark blue velvet dress that was warm enough to protect her from the frigid chill of winter but not so heavy it would be suffocating while indoors.
“If I didn't know any better, lady Liliana, I’d say you were about to go out to meet a suitor,” Astrid teased, smiling benignly as Liliana’s face turned a dark shade of red.
“It’s not like that! I just don’t have any friends that are women. And she's the crown princess. I’m worried that I won’t look appropriate,” Liliana defended herself hastily. It was true.
She didn’t see Marianne in a romantic light, not because she didn’t think the princess was beautiful, but because she had no thoughts of romance at the moment. Liliana couldn’t imagine juggling romantic feelings with everything else in her life at the moment. She’d probably die from the stress of all the emotions. However, she wanted to make a good impression on her friend, one of the rare few she had and the only girl around her age who was willing to spend time with her for no ulterior motives.
“Well, these are some of the new presents your father purchased for you. They’re the latest styles and no expense was spared,” Astrid told her, the unsaid ‘what presents you didn’t destroy’ hung between them. Liliana looked away, not willing to face Astrid’s disappointment again.
She didn’t feel guilty for her actions, though she could admit they were childish and pointless. Destroying her father’s presents ultimately did nothing but make him potentially hostile towards her. She was lucky they were able to get rid of the destroyed presents without anyone finding out about her ‘tantrum’. Otherwise, she was certain she’d be under house arrest. It was also a boon that she saw her father so rarely, and that he paid so little attention to her when they did cross paths. She didn’t know what she’d do if he requested her wear a specific present she’d already destroyed in her fit of rage.
Liliana raised a hand to the summoning stone on her neck, taking comfort in Lelantos’ warm presence held within. Nemesis was tucked safely in her own summoning stone, set into a cuff around her left bicep. She wasn’t sure if she’d be allowed to have her Bonds out in the royal palace, so she had put them both into stasis for the time being. Nemesis hadn’t been excited by that, but she’d gone into the stone after Liliana promised her a heap of cores as compensation.
“Now it’s best you head out. It wouldn’t do to be late when the princess is having you teleported to the palace,” Astrid informed her, laying a thick cloak over Liliana’s shoulders. Liliana nodded, reluctantly leaving her spot in front of the mirror. There was an advantage to befriending the crown princess, one of them being that Marianne could have Liliana teleported to the palace instead of having her travel by carriage through the steadily worsening winter weather. Snow had fallen steadily after they’d returned home several weeks ago. It was constantly cleared off the roads and the grounds, but every morning they woke up with more of the stuff coating every available surface.
It was also good that Marianne was having her teleported as the princess was back in the capital. The trip would take weeks, even with good weather, normally. Rosengarde territory was the furthest north int he queendom and as such was a far distance from the capital city. It was one of the reason her father didn’t spend much time there and instead had a representative he trusted in the court to manage his affairs there.
Liliana paid little attention to the servants as she made her way through the manor, well used to their behavior by now. The whispers, the sly looks and the mocking attempts at deference they performed. She might have gained some favor with her father, which was why the servants at least tried to pretend to respect her, but it was obvious this was still her stepmother’s domain. Liliana paid little heed to it however, knowing already it was a lost battle. The only way she’d get the respect of the servants was through fear or the removal of what made them so bold. She had her plans to ensure both happened.
This is the first step in my plan. I need Marianne’s help if I’m going to get my stepmother removed. The only authority high enough to make a Duke listen is the royal family. If he won’t hear me out, I’ll just go over his head. Liliana smiled to herself at the thought of her father finally having to listen to her, with the power of the crown behind her. She didn’t think it would be as simple as asking Marianne for help, though. While the crown was powerful, they were not absolute. The nobles held the royal family in check, so making a move against a noble would be risky, even for a royal. But she needed to at least talk to Marianne about it, to see what the crown princess could and couldn’t do. And to see how much hard evidence Liliana needed to have before Marianne could step in.
If only I had a truth potion, that would make this all so much easier. But Alistair is right. They’re incredibly rare. I even checked in Ariowood and not a single alchemist had one for sale, let alone the ingredients for them. Nor did any know for sure where one could find them, except telling me of rumors that there are some in the Frost Fang mountains. An area with monsters from Rank 4 to 1 reportedly. Liliana grimaced at the thought of trying to get the ingredients herself, or even commissioning an adventuring team to. Rank 1 adventurers were rare, most didn’t survive long enough to reach that Rank, and those that did were usually recruited by the royal family.
She wasn’t even sure her father could easily afford to commission one, and if he could afford it, it would probably put the duchy in debt. So truth potions of any kind were out of the question, that left finding hard evidence of Imogen’s deals with the assassins or of her poisoning attempt. But the more time went on, the more likely it was that Imogen had gotten rid of any evidence. Liliana hadn’t found a single chance to sneak into Imogen’s room and look since she’d come home. The duchess hadn’t left the duchy since she’d come back and she seemed to always have eyes on Liliana, servants trailing after her wherever she went.
Liliana almost stumbled as she came to the entrance of the duchy, seeing Imogen waiting for her. The woman was dressed lavishly despite the fact that no one but those in the manor would see her. The duchess gave her a sickly sweet smile and moved to Liliana.
“Your grace.” Liliana greeted, curtsying to the woman, locking her distaste behind the perfected cold mask she wore in this manor at all times like armor.
“Hm, well, your manners aren’t as atrocious as they once were,” Imogen greeted, her voice still sweet despite the backhanded compliment. Liliana inclined her head to the woman.
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“Thank you duchess, it warms my heart to hear such words of praise from you,” Liliana responded, taking joy in the flash of annoyance she saw in the woman’s eyes.
“And I see you’re not dressed like a beggar, as you normally are. Though no matter how comely the dress, it can’t do much for a homely appearance,” Imogen giggled lightly as she circled Liliana as if appraising a mare for sale. Liliana hid her clenched fists in the folds of her cloak.
“Thank you, your grace. Father purchased this dress for me as a reward for my recent achievements. I’ll be sure to communicate your approval to him when I next see him,” Liliana responded, her tone calm and collected. One of the largest boons the original Liliana had gifted her was the ability to keep her expression and voice collected and poised despite whatever emotions rampaged beneath her exterior. It hurt her heart to know what had prompted the original Liliana learning such skills, but they came in handy often in this house.
“Tsk, make sure you don’t bring disgrace upon our house with your boorish attitude and clumsy etiquette before the Queen and Crown Princess, though I can’t fathom why you’re being requested,” Imogen practically hissed, grabbing onto Liliana’s chin with her clawed fingers. Liliana let herself be grabbed like a doll, not breaking eye contact with her stepmother’s poisonous golden gaze. It was odd, Alistair had the same golden eyes, yet his didn’t fill her with such visceral revulsion like his mother’s did. His were warm, like molten gold in the forge and his mother’s were hard, and brittle like gold left out in the freezing cold.
“Crown Princess Marianne enjoys my company. I’ll be sure to bring only honor and praise for our noble house while I’m in the royal palace, your grace. I have never done anything that could bring unwanted attention to the Rosengarde name,” unlike you, who has hired assassins and poisoned your own stepdaughter in your paranoia and thirst for power, Liliana thought. But she kept the last part to herself, simply giving Imogen a sweet smile that would match the duchess’ own.
She couldn’t entirely resist the urge to sneak in a small slight at her stepmother, but with the servants int he room she knew her stepmother wouldn’t comment on it. She’d want to keep even the suspicion that she’d done something so awful, and illegal, away from herself. Liliana watched as the woman’s eyes widened infinitesimally, saw the anger and hatred that flashed in her eyes, felt it in the way the woman’s fingers tightened on her chin, dangerously close to digging into Liliana’s skin. Though Liliana was no longer concerned that her stepmother would be able to really hurt her. The woman might be a higher level, but Liliana doubted she had ever put a single point into Strength, not such an unladylike stat.
“I must go, your grace. The mage sent to take me to the palace will be here shortly and it would be boorish to make a royal mage wait,” Liliana informed her stepmother, barely resiting the urge to smirk as her stepmother’s fingers froze on her face. She wouldn’t even risk hurting Liliana somewhere that the crown princess or queen would see, and she wouldn’t dare make her late. If it came back to the duchy that the royal family was insulted by Liliana’s tardiness, it wouldn’t take long for the duke to find out who exactly was responsible. Her stepmother might lord over the servants, but her father did sign their checks. Ultimately, if forced to pick between the duchess and the duke, they’d chose the one who paid their bills.
“Go, and don't you dare come back with any tales of you making a fool of yourself,” her stepmother shoved Liliana away, though it did nothing. Liliana simply stood there, utterly resistant to the duchess’ weak strength. With a huff, the duchess turned on her heel and walked away from Liliana before pausing and turning to look over her shoulder, a coy smile on her face.
“Oh, and don’t forget to lock your windows tonight. I hear a bad blizzard is coming. You wouldn’t want to have any unwanted wildlife scurrying into your room,” the duchess taunted.
“It’s been a bit since my Bond’s had a chance to hunt something, maybe I’ll leave them open and given them something to play with,” Liliana answered with a small smile, reaching up to stroke the summoning stone around her neck.
“Be careful, there are many things that come down from the mountains in the winter far stronger than your pets,” Imogen responded with a concerned voice. “We wouldn’t want you to lose your precious mongrels and be left defenseless.” The duchess finished, the concern in her voice not matching the venom in her eyes. Liliana didn't respond, watching with impassive eyes as the duchess smirked before walking out, obviously happy to have the last word.
Please send another assassin. Dig that hole of yours deeper. Give me more chances to get evidence on you, Liliana thought, not feeling the fear she knew the duchess wanted. She suspected that the duchess would hire an assassin even stronger than the last, but such an assassin would be costly. That much money changing hands had to leave a trail of some kind. She also knew she only had to send a message to Silas that she suspected another assassin would come and she’d have every last available guard stationed in and around her room. She suspected the duchess didn’t know her close relation to Silas, something they’d been careful about showing around others. Other than their trainings, sanctioned by her father, she didn’t see the guard captain much. It had been Liliana’s choice. She wanted to keep her allies a secret from her stepmother. The more hidden aces she had up her sleeve, the better.
Even if she doesn't send an assassin, she just tipped me off that she’ll be trying for my life again, and soon. She’s probably getting nervous that I’ll tell someone what she’s done. The more valuable I become to my father, the more likely it is that he’ll listen to me, or at least that what she’s likely thinking. And the longer she allows me to live, the stronger I’ll become, and the more valuable I’ll be to him. She’s going to feel like she’ll need to remove me sooner rather than later, to remove me as a threat to her position and life. She’ll likely do something she feels will be inescapable, which also means it’ll be big. And therefore, it will leave an even bigger chance of her slipping up and leaving some kind of proof. I don’t like making my life bait, but if that’s what it takes, Liliana thought, smiling as she flicked her hood up and exited the manor.
She had barely left the manor and exposed herself to the elements when a man popped into existence before her. He was wearing robes embroidered with the crest of the royal family, heralding him as the promised teleporter.
“Hello,” Liliana greeted the man, who looked a bit frazzled and cold. Liliana assumed the capital’s weather was far more calm than what they were dealing with in the north based on the way the man was shivering already. He nodded his head at her greeting and motioned her forward.
“Come, come, I want to get out of this frozen hell quickly,” the man informed her, and Liliana couldn’t help the giggle. She wasn’t used to people being so blunt towards her unless they were close to her. It was refreshing.
“I’m in your care,” she told the man as she walked to him. He laid a hand on her and she could hear him muttering curses against the cold. With no warning, the world twisted and skewed roughly, the scenery fading into a swirl of clashing colors and sensations. The next breath and the world suddenly righted itself. Liliana blinked, stumbling slightly as she took a deep breath, wincing as a sudden feeling of overwhelming nausea took over her and she bent over, trying to control the urge to vomit.
“Ah yea, that happens the first few times your teleport. Take deep breaths, it’ll fade in moments.” the man beside her said, his tone guilty as Liliana sucked in deep breaths between clenched teeth. Liliana looked up and straightened as the nausea faded, noticing they were in a stone room covered in runes.
“Welcome to the capital.”